2024 GS-12 Pay in Houston
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 34.72% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $74,441 on the base table to $100,287 in Houston.
2024 GS-12 Pay in Houston
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $100,287 | $3,857.19 | $48.05 | +$25,846 |
| Step 2 | $103,629 | $3,985.73 | $49.65 | +$26,707 |
| Step 3 | $106,972 | $4,114.31 | $51.26 | +$27,569 |
| Step 4 | $110,314 | $4,242.85 | $52.86 | +$28,430 |
| Step 5 | $113,657 | $4,371.42 | $54.46 | +$29,292 |
| Step 6 | $116,999 | $4,499.96 | $56.06 | +$30,153 |
| Step 7 | $120,341 | $4,628.50 | $57.66 | +$31,014 |
| Step 8 | $123,684 | $4,757.08 | $59.26 | +$31,876 |
| Step 9 | $127,026 | $4,885.62 | $60.87 | +$32,737 |
| Step 10 | $130,369 | $5,014.19 | $62.47 | +$33,599 |
2024 GS-12 pay table for Houston
Each step below already includes the 34.72% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $100,287 | $3,857.19 | $48.05 | +$25,846 |
| Step 2 | $103,629 | $3,985.73 | $49.65 | +$26,707 |
| Step 3 | $106,972 | $4,114.31 | $51.26 | +$27,569 |
| Step 4 | $110,314 | $4,242.85 | $52.86 | +$28,430 |
| Step 5 | $113,657 | $4,371.42 | $54.46 | +$29,292 |
| Step 6 | $116,999 | $4,499.96 | $56.06 | +$30,153 |
| Step 7 | $120,341 | $4,628.50 | $57.66 | +$31,014 |
| Step 8 | $123,684 | $4,757.08 | $59.26 | +$31,876 |
| Step 9 | $127,026 | $4,885.62 | $60.87 | +$32,737 |
| Step 10 | $130,369 | $5,014.19 | $62.47 | +$33,599 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Houston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Houston: what to expect
Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
For 2024, the Houston pay area adds a 34.72% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-12 in Houston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $3,857 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,014. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2024 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-12 Houston page.
Other grades in Houston
GS-12 in Houston questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Houston?
In 2024, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $100,287 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $130,369. This is 34.72% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Houston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Houston in 2024, it is 34.72%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $25,846 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Houston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $3,857 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.